The Seventh-day Adventist Church and Lomwe initiation ceremonies: A Study on socio-cultural and religious challenges and conflicts

Abstract

This study assess the benefits Lomwe children get at initiation ceremonies, which their parents and guardians do not want them to miss, even at the cost of the latter's church membership. The issue under conflict is Lomwe initiation ceremonies. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, dressed in its western garb, believe that Lomwe initiation ceremonies are immoral. On the other hand, Lomwe parents who have accepted the Seventh-day Adventist Beliefs, but they contend that one can double as a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church and at the same time practice cultural requirements of initiation ceremonies. In order to ensure that all members of the church comply with the requirements of the church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church put in place strict rules against members who dare to practice Lomwe initiation ceremonies. Hence, any members who dare to go against these rules face discipline which range from censure to ex-communication. By these different perceptions regarding initiation ceremonies; it is obvious that the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ by the Seventh-day Adventist Church is retarded among the Lomwe. This study investigated Lomwe cultural initiation ceremonies that hinder the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ by the SDA Church; and eventually, recommend methods which can enable the Seventh-day Adventist Church to advance its work among the Lomwe and other tribes in Malawi and other countries. It employed descriptive, qualitative and quantative methods to analyse and interpret the data. In the process; data and narratives were critically examined and synthesised. Experiences of initiates (current and former), angolozolo (mentors of initiates), Seventh-day Adventist Church elders and pastors; were compared and contrasted, in order to strike a balance. In addition; traditional leaders such as traditional authorities and village headmen were interviewed. Besides all stated; I visited boys’ initiation camps, and perhaps the most exciting exercise was the visit to mock girls’ initiation camps, which were organised at my request. The geographical study was carried out in Thyolo south in three territories of Traditional Authority Khwethemule, Traditional Authority Changata and Traditional Authority Nsabwe. The study showed that Lomwe girls and boys go through rigorous and painful process in the initiation ceremonies. However, it was discovered that these rigorous and painful experiences are the aspects which the Lomwe parents sought after. Other sought after aspects in the Lomwe initiation ceremonies are the teachings at the initiation camps. These teachings are regarded as preparatory instructions to adulthood, especially to married life. It further indicated that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has 28 Beliefs, and none of them directly deters tribes from practicing their social-cultural practices such as initiation ceremonies. Besides the 28 Beliefs, the Seventh-day Adventist Church uses the Church Manual as tool book for local church administration and d discipline. It was established in the study that the Church Manual does not directly deter its members from practicing its cultural practices, especially if the practices are not contrary to biblical teachings. It was also observed that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is good at following procedure of discipline. It was found that all erring members (in regard to initiation ceremonies) were called to local church boards for a hearing, and that the erring members’ cases were vetted by the whole church membership. In conclusion, the study found that initiation ceremonies are a passage to adulthood among the Lomwe; and therefore, it is hard for many Lomwe parents to bypass this important door. The morals learnt at the initiation ceremonies are more valuable to Lomwe parents than to face discipline, even of excommunication from the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Hence, this study recommends that if the SDA Church is to succeed in the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Lomwe; it has to embrace the Lomwe initiation culture.